Social media: Does it cause more harm than good?

[Redaktion]

It has been just over 20 years since Facebook first launched as a Harvard university project. In that time, a significant number of other platforms have launched including TikTok, Twitter (X), Snapchat, Instagram and more. But do these platforms still contribute something to society or do they cause more harm than good?

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Social-media-Does-it-cause-more-harm-than-good.830515.0.html

[George]

*sigh*

I'm going to date myself here but here goes...

Before "Social Media" and the "Internet" and "Computers" there were these odd things called "clubs" and "groups".

People with common interests would gather around and interact about THAT interest and often others as well. "Sub groups" would form and split.

In the 1980's many colleges had computers that were interconnected via a 'internet'. As 'personal computers' made their way into consumers homes and were outfitted with a "modem" consumers could call other computers (often called "builtin board systems" or BBS's) and exchange files and messages.

While on college campuses "usenet newsgroups" proliferated with a 'group' for just about any/every topic imaginable out in consumer space BBS's were making use of "store & forward" technology to "leap frog" around the nations (and world) bringing topics and respondents from all edges of telephone & power delivery.

In those days send/reply might take DAYS however it was all subsidized by countless computer hobbyists around the world.

When the internet (mostly the WWW) became accessible by consumers simple "text" was quickly replaced with images and sound. While a seemingly SNAIL's speed (as compared to today) it was much more "instant" then what was before.

So what is the point of the history lesson?

People have always gathered together with shared interests. However in 2024 capitalism has found a way to monetize it.

Bandwidth, server space and servers cost $$$. They all have to be paid for somehow.

 

[AnnoyedByExistence]

Are social media good or bad?

Yes